Compare towns
Berlin vs Gorham vs Northfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berlin | Gorham | Northfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
18,300Highest |
5,920 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Gorham Public Schools | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.